Invitation to Love

By: Paul Laurence Dunbar

Invitation to Love

By: Paul Laurence Dunbar

Figurative Language

The representation of seasons changing and day change emphasize how he is always welcoming her no matter the time. In the poem, the speaker states, "Come when the year's first blossom blows, Come when the summer gleams and glows, Come with the winter's drifting snows." No matter the time of the year, the speaker is always welcoming his lover.

Imagery

Imagery of night time and day time help reveal the speaker's openness to his lover that she is welcome no matter the time of day. The poem starts out with saying, "Come when the nights are bright with stars Or come when the moon is mellow; Come when the sun his golden bars Drops on the hay-field yellow." The peaceful words like "mellow" and "golden", also give a romantic image of day just like the romantic message he is giving his lover.

Syntax

Syntax helps emphasize the repetition of "Come" and "Welcome" to prove how much he loves her. Repeatedly those words come up in each stanza describing different times of the year that he is wanting her to come and how he will welcome her.

Voice Speaker/Tone

The romantic and loving tone helps emphasize the amount of love he has towards his lover through the use of soft-sounding tone words. The speaker describes his lover as "Sweet" and "Soft" for he admires her so much. Using these peaceful words make the poem more romantic and sweet like the love he has for her.

Theme

The message the speaker is trying to get through this poem is that if you truly love someone then time is no obstacle. The speaker welcomes his lover anytime of the year, no matter the time of day or season. Love takes patience, that is why the speaker is willing to wait for his lover.